Dataset: Body stoichiometry of coral reef fishes collected from the Indo-Pacific in 2016-2017

All fish capturing was sanctioned via IACUC permit #915 from the University of California Santa Barbara. For catching live individual fishes, we employed a variety of gear types to target and capture individuals across the available size range. Gear included hook and line, fish traps, barrier nets, and hand nets with sampling from coral reefs, sand flats, and rubble areas. We also harvested fishes via spearguns, pole spears, hook and line, and barrier nets. Fishes that were not immediately killed by our capture method were euthanized by transferring them to polyethylene bags containing a solution of seawater and MS 222. This solution was buffered with sodium bicarbonate to pH ~8.0 as monitored with pH strip test kits. Fishes were incubated in this solution until death is confirmed by the lack of respiration. Once euthanized, fishes were dissected to remove the gut contents with the digestive tract placed back in the fish once emptied. The fishes were then processed for body stoichiometric measurements (body composition of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus). Fishes were dried for 5-7 days at 60 degrees C until the body was devoid of moisture. The dried fishes were then ground separately in a large ball mill to a talcum power-like consistency. This dried powered was then subjected to analytical procedures to measure body C, N, and P. Ground samples were analyzed for %C and N content with a CHN Carlo-Erba elemental analyzer (NA1500) CN Analyzer, and for %P using dry oxidation-acid hydrolysis extraction followed by a colorometric analysis (Aplkem RF300). Elemental content was calculated on a dry weight basis.